Hi folks,
I am about to have new guides fitted to my 1935 model 18 head with naked valve springs.
I can't work out or find information on how these are lubricated.
my 16h had nipples on the side of the valve guides but I can see none on the 18 head.
there are two threaded holes on both inlet and exhaust sided of the castings leading to the valve guides, but no hole in the guide walls to allow grease or oils to pass.
These holes were blanked off with grub screws which i have removed.
Any advise appreciated
Rodge
Do you know what the guide…
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The contemporary Inters are…
The contemporary Inters are of course well lubricated (over lubricated?). They have holes drilled in the sides of the valve guides to line up with holes in the cylinder head for oil lubrication feed tubes. It sounds like PO didn't drill the grease lubrication holes!
Page 6 of the maintenance manual describes grease nipples on the bosses holding the valve guides. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1s0fnaCPwa1IiKhvy-QRMz62UPPsA7TrG/view
PO of my Inter had a 1920's vintage sports/tourer car with open valve gear and started every run with a squirt from an oil can with a moly disulphide oil. Made a horrible mess...
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Thanks Gents, that's a big…
Thanks Gents,
that's a big help.
The old guides are cast iron as are the replacements.
it appears then that the lubrication system is a nipple as per the 16h which would make sense.
I want to keep the bike as original as possible and it will be pampered to an inch of its life, so that should suffice.
Thanks again.
Rodge.
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I hear that pattern guides…
I hear that pattern guides are possibly made of an incorrect grade of iron and the correct grade which allows the lubrication to work is difficult to source. Will know much more in a weeks time.
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Many thanks Rob, anything…
Many thanks Rob,
anything has to be better than tje existing valve guides.
what would you expect to get out of a new set of guides and valves on this type of system if greased regularly.
I would like to think it would be about the same as a rebore interval but have no knowledge of naked valves.
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I have not done enough…
I have not done enough mileage with unenclosed valves to have real world experience , and as a 15 year old youth was far more interested in taking the Rudge 35 Ulster GP appart ! . My current Ulster has enclosed and oiled valves. The grade of iron needs to be exactly suited and is not easily found now and has to be compatible with the valve stem spec. More info will follow soon. Valve gear wear with replacements together with decoking was part of normal maintenance .
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Exposed valve lubrication
Rodge,
My 1927 Model 18 has open valve springs but my inlet valve has a brass lubrication device. The body is filled with grease and the cap is screwed on bit by bit to push a little bit of grease through the drilling in the valve guide. See attached photo.
It was already on the bike when I bought it, so I do not know how common this is.
I've wondered whether the exhaust guide should also have one of these, but maybe the heat from the exhaust valve would melt the grease.
When I recently renewed my valves, guides and springs I found Paul Norman of the racing norton website very helpful and knowledgeable on early Norton engines.
Philip
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Do you know what the guide material is ?. For the time being ,if guides cast iron you could carry an oil can and lubricate the guides before riding and every few hundred miles. Messy but needed. At the Next SNOC (Surrey) branch meeting there will be a talk and film about the refurbishment of an early M18 and information about research into suitable materials for guides in early engines.